Operation Theatre Techniques Course Details - Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Duration, Eligibility, Career Scope

What is Operation Theatre Techniques

A course in Operation Theatre Techniques is about the layout and ethics of an operation theatre, in addition to handling the equipment. An operation theatre has a plethora of state of the art equipment and machines. A vital part of any surgery’s functioning involves the setup, handling and preparation of the equipment.Hence, trained technicians are always in demand to take care of these processes.

Operation Theatre Techniques professionals assist before, during and after treatment procedures conducted by surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses. The primary work of an Operation Theatre Technician is assisting doctors during surgery, preparing the necessary instruments before surgery, following instructions promptly during a medical procedure or emergency, and managing anaesthesia equipment. 

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Operation Theatre Techniques

The eligibility criteria for candidates who are aspiring to pursue a Bachelor’s in Operation Theatre Techniques vary from college to college; however, a few common points which apply to the majority colleges are: 

• Candidates must have completed their Higher Secondary Exams (Class 12) in the Science stream with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry as the compulsory subjects.

• Candidates must have secured at least 50% in their Class 12 examination.

• Candidates must clear the cut off for the relevant entrance exam.

At the postgraduate level, candidates who wish to pursue a Master’s degree in Operation Theatre Techniques must fulfil the following basic criteria:

• Candidates must have completed their graduation in a relevant Science stream course from a recognised university.

• Candidates must have secured a minimum aggregate score of 45% in their graduation course. 

Entrance Exams for Operation Theatre Techniques 

A Student can pursue Operation Theatre Techniques through Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) or at the Master’s level (M.Sc.). 

Admissions to B.Sc. Operation Theatre Techniques are granted to students based on merit. Students apply for the course, after which a merit list is released based on their academic performance in class 12. In some cases, this is followed by a personal interview. 

• NIMS School of Paramedical Sciences and Technology Entrance Exam: The department of Paramedical Sciences and Technology in NIMS University conducts an entrance exam for students who wish to get admission into their undergraduate courses. Based on the performance of students in the examination, students may get admission to the B.Sc. Operation Theatre Techniques course.

• Tech Mahindra SMART Academy for Healthcare Entrance Exam: The Tech Mahindra SMART Academy conducts an entrance exam for aspirants who wish to pursue a diploma in Operation Theatre Techniques. Candidates who successfully clear the entrance exams are then interviewed by a senior faculty member, following which students may get admission. At the Master’s level, admissions are conducted mostly based on merit. 

• Students can apply for the degree at the university of their choice, following which their performance during their graduation degree is evaluated for merit.

Required Skillset for Operation Theatre Techniques

A career in Operation Theatre Techniques is one of high importance, great responsibility and high demand. To build an impressive portfolio and a successful career in this field requires aspirants to possess certain relevant skills, many of which are actively sought by recruiting organisations as mandatory requirements. Some of the required skills are:

• Maintenance and Organisation Skills: As an Operation Theatre technician, one is in charge of an array of medical equipment of varying sizes. Keeping these organised in a manner that they can be found as and when required, even during emergencies, and can be cleaned and taken care of, requires special skill.

• Competence: A career which requires one to be on their feet for a large part of the day, constantly alert and providing efficient assistance is quite difficult unless the candidate possesses the competence to keep up with the demand.

• Technical Support and Intra-Operative Equipment Knowledge: It isn’t enough to just keep equipment organised; Operation Theatre Technicians must have the necessary knowledge and technical acumen to provide immediate solutions to any queries or problems that may arise. When new equipment is brought in, these technicians must know exactly how and where they are used so that when these instruments are required in the operation theatre, no time is wasted.

• Listening and Speaking Skills: The individual requires good listening and reading skills to be able to discuss procedures, and what to expect from them with patients, make them feel comfortable, and answer any queries they may have. A technician should also be able to listen to and follow workplace instructions as well as clarifying instructions when necessary.

• Decision Making: A professional in this field needs to understand and know how to apply the best practices when making decisions regarding any preparation method, as well as how to drive improvements in existing processes.

• Critical and Analytical Thinking: On the job, a technician should know how to interpret observations and arrive at solutions for the same, build upon existing experience to improve the cleaning and preparation process, and to analyse and evaluate the information gathered from experience, communication, or reasoning.